§ MR. BECK (Cambridgeshire, Wisbech)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether legislative measures dealing with outbreaks of 952 American gooseberry mildew in England will be in force by May next; and, if not, whether, considering that the disease spreads by spores from that month onwards, the Board of Agriculture will make a grant for the purpose of providing for a strict supervision of the diseased plantations with special reference to the carrying out of spraying and other remedial measures likely to prevent the spread of the disease,
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) My noble friend has introduced a Bill giving power to the Board and to local authorities to deal with this disease, but it will not be possible to bring it into operation by May next. We have, how ever, issued a further memorandum, giving full information as to the best means of preventing the spread of the disease, copies of which I shall be glad to supply to my hon. friend. I am afraid there is no prospect of any Government grant being given towards the expenses of spraying and other remedial measures.